Windows 8 is a computer science masterpiece trapped inside a user interface kerfuffle. Microsoftís new operating system for phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and servers brims with innovative technologies, bold ideas, and visual elegance. The systemís radical new interface, called Modern, is a pleasure to use on phones and tablets. And although that interface fares poorly on todayís larger desktop computer screens, Windows 8 probably wonít damage the companyís standing in corporate America. It might even shore up its eroding presence on residential desktops and laptops by offering a user experience thatís new, fun, and different from anything offered by Apple and Google. Indeed, thatís my only real criticism of Windows 8: the touch-based user interface is clearly designed for consuming information and having fun, rather than for doing serious work.